Pneumatically operated control means



Oct. 31, 196 7 P. A. KLANN PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED CONTROL MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 AIR PRESSURE 5 Filed Jan. 19, 1967' INVENTOR PAUL A. KLANN I MB, W M

aga/W" ATTORNEYS I Get. 31; 1967 P. A. KLANN PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED CONTROL mums 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed Jan; 19, 1967 Oct. 31, 1967 RAKL'ANN 3,349,660

PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED CONTROL MEANS Fi led Jan. 19, 1957 :5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Flmo PAUL A. KLANN ATTORNEYS INVENTOR United States Patent 3,349,660 PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED CONTROL MEANS Paul A. Klann, P.O. Box 2398, Waynesboro, Va. 22981 Filed Jan. 19, 1967, Ser. No. 617,750 12 Claims. 01. 84-90) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Pneumatically operated control means of the type used in organs wherein the inndividual control means are shifted in opposite directions by pneumatic pressure under electrical controls.

Background of the invention In both pipe organs and electronic organs, a plurality of stop tablets and drawknobs, usually positioned adjacent a keyboard, are used by an organist to change or vary the response of the organ from the plane of the keys. Commonly, a plurality of stop tablets are positioned side-byside allowing an organist to select any number of combinations to produce a wide variety of sound responses available from the operation of the keyboard. Likewise, a plurality of drawknobs may be grouped together to provide a variation of the sound responses available from the operation of the keyboard.

The stop tablets and drawknobs are ordinarily manually operated :by an organist. A predetermined number of stop tablets may also be operated automatically either by a setter board or 'a combination action. The same is true for the drawknobs and this invention provides for automatic operation of either stop tablets or drawknobs by pneumatic pressure under electrical controls.

It is generally known to operate control elements, such as stop tablets and drawknobs, pneumatically under electrical control. However, in the prior art the air pressure is always maintained constant requiring an electrical shifter to overcome the pressure to apply the pressure to operate the stop tablets or drawknobs, thus necessitating rather large and powerful solenoids, and attendant problems.

According to this invention, the pneumatically operated control means is provided which uses a miniature electrical shifter which does not have to overcome air pressure. Only a puff or pulse of air pressure is used to set the tablet and a toggle arrangement will hold the tablet in set position.

Summary of the invention A pneumatically operated control means comprising:

support means, a control element movably mounted on said support means, means for holding said control element in either of two positions, a pair of air bag motors carried by the support means adjacent the control element so that expansion of one air bag motor will cause movement of the control element in one direction and expansion of the other air bag motor will cause movement of the control element in the other direction, a controlled source of air pressure for producing a pulse of air pressure only if it is desired to operate said control element, means providing closed paths of fluid communication between the controlled air pressure pulse source and the air bag motors, and electromagnetically operated valve means in the closed paths of fluid communication for applying the pulse of pressure to one or the other of the air bag motors.

Other features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a board including the of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation stop board;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG- URE 5, but of a modified form of a pneumatic shifter;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view similar to the view of FIGURE 3 showing a modified form of stop tablet and control means therefor;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the arrangement for a numerically operated drawknob;

FIGURE 11 is a partial top plan view of the toggle arrangement shown in FIGURE 10, and

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of a further modification of a pneumatically operated control device.

Referring to the drawings, a pneumatic stop board 10 illustrated in FIGURE 1 includes a plurality of pneumatic stop tablets 12. A support board 14 for the stop tablets 12 may be curved as shown in FIGURE 1 to illustrate the flexibility of the arrangement, since only air lines need be connected to each stop tablet.

Referring to FIGURE 3, for example, a stop tablet includes a support member 16 which is secured by screws 18 and 20 to the support board 14. These screws extend through solts 22 and 24 in the support member 16, see FIGURE 4. There is provided an opening 26 in the support board 14 and the opening which is appropriately lined with sound deadening felts 28 and 30. The suppo1t member 16 also includes a ledge 32 near the bottom thereof and a pair of rearwardly extending lugs 34 and 36, see FIGURES 2 and 4.

The stop tablet 12 includes a tablet portion 38 and an operating lever 40 integral therewith. The table portion 38 is integrally connected to the operating lever 40 by a pair of spaced arms 42 and 44, which straddle the support member 16, as shown, for example, in FIGURE 4. A pivot pin 46 extends through the lugs 34 and 36 on the support member 16 and through the operating lever perspective view of a curved stop pneumatically operated stop tablets view of the pneumatic view taken along line 66 port of the operating lever 40.

A toggle spring 48 is positioned between ledge 32 and one end of the operating lever 40 so as to hold the operating lever 40 in either one of its two extreme pivoted positions. Electrical conductors 50 suitably connected to actuating circuits are held by conductor holder 52. Pivotal movement of the operating lever 40 makes selected circuits of the conductors 50 to perform the functions required of the stop tablet 12.

A source of air pressure 54 provides pulses or puffs of air at any time it is desired to operate the stop tablets under the control of a control valve 56, or any other suitable means may be used for providing a pulse of air at the time of operating the stop tablets, but no pulse of air at any other time. The pressure pulses of air pass through any suitable connecting conduit 58 to manifold 60, which in turn is supported from the board 14 by clips 62, see FIGURE 2. An air line 64 leads out of the manifold 60 for each stop tablet assembly. The air line is connected to a valve 66. As shown in FIGURES and 6, the valve includes a closed chamber 68 into which line 64 enters at inlet 70 and includes a pair of outlets 72 and 74. The outlets 72 and 74 lead, respectively, into passages 76 and 78 in support 16 and these passages terminate in outlets 80 and 82. However, outlets 80 and 82 are covered by air bag motors 84 and 86 positioned as shown in FIG- URE 3 below each end of operating lever 40. The air bag motors are made from heat sealed polyethylene plastic parts, the seal being around the edges 88.

It is thus apparent that air pressure pulses passing through manifold 60 and line 64 will be controlled by valve 66 and applied either to air bag 84 or 86 to pivot the stop tablet 12 to either of its extreme positions, while the toggle spring 48 holds it in either extreme position.

The valve 66 includes a valve flap lever 90 of paramagnetic material which may have a soft coating for sealing assistance on the bottom surface 92 and is formed as one longer or heavier arm 94 and one shorter or lighter arm 96. A guide pole 98.through the valve block holds the valve flap 94 in position to cover one or the other of outlets 72 and 74. The valve is positioned in a vertical position so that gravity will cause the longer arm 94 to normally close outlet 74 by the force of gravity. A pulse of air pressure applied in this condition would go through outlet 72 operating air bag motor 84, pivoting the stop tablet 12 from the position shown in FIGURE 3.

An electromagnet 100 is provided adjacent the lever 94, for example, in board 14, as shown in FIGURE 6, and this electromagnet includes a'core 102 positioned to attract the shorter or lighter arm 96 of the valve flap lever 90. The electromagnet 100 is provided with coil leads 104 and 106, with lead 104 being connected to a common bus 108 and lead 106 to a terminal 110, which in turn is selectively connected either to a setter board or remote combination action as is known in the organ art.

On energization of a selected electromagnet 100, the shorter arm 96 of the valve flap 90 will be attracted to close outlet 72 in the position shown in FIGURE 5. At that time, when a puff of air is supplied to the valve chamber 68, it will not only pass through outlet 74, but will assist in seating the valve flap 90 to cover outlet 72. A similar assistance in the seating action of the valve flap is obtained when outlet 74 is covered as described above.

It is believed that the operation of the invention is apparent from the foregoing detailed description, but a brief rsum will now be given. A plurality of stop tablets 12 may be assembled in any form of stop board 14 as required and on selecting certain required stop tablets, for example, by setter board or remote combination action as is known in the art, the electromagnet 100 for the stop tablet will either be energized or not energized, depending on the condition it is desired for the stop tablet to assume. After positioning of the valve flap lever 90 in valve 66 by either the energized or non-energized condition of the electromagnet 100, a puff of air from air pressure source 54 is applied and passes either through outlet 72 or 74 in valve 66 to operate either of the air bag motors 84 or 86. Depending on which of the air bag motors is operated, the stop tablet 12 will assume the corresponding position and will be held in that position by the toggle spring 48 until a change of that position is warranted by further operation in which the other air bag motor is operated.

Another embodiment of a pneumatic shifter is shown in FIGURE 8, A spool valve shifter 112 has lands 114 and 116 straddling an inlet 70 to valve 66. When the electromagnet is not energized, a pulse of air from inlet 70 passes through passages 78 to inflate the corresponding air bag. 'Upon energization of the electromagnet, core 102' attracts the spool 112 drawing it up in passage 118 until outlet 72' is in communication with inlet 70' and outlet 74' is blocked. To prevent air escaping past lands 114 and 116 from operating the air bags, vents 120 and 122 are provided.

It is noted that this invention provides a number of advantages. First of all, the operation does not require any more power than is necessary to attract a very light valve flap which is not under pressure, since the pulse of air pressure is applied after the valve flap is in position. Secondly, the arrangement can be operated by only a pulse or absence of a pulse to electromagnet and a two pulse electrical system is not required. Further, by using the pneumatic arrangement, flexibility can be obtained in the stop board, for example, the stop board may be curved and is not limited to flat or straight configurations. The construction of stop tablets themselves is such that it provides a modular arrangement which is easily removable and replaced from the stop board when desired and provides wiping contact for the electrical conductors 50 enclosing the electrical circuits. The straddling arms 42 and 44 of the stop tablet allow better pivotal action in the same space requirements, or in the alternative, smaller spacing than the arrangements of the prior art.

A modified arrangement for penumatically controlling a stop tablet has been shown in FIGURE 9. In this embodiment, the frame is provided with an opening 132 in which a pair of pads (not shown) may be placed, such as those shown in FIGURE 3, to provide for dampening the sound. An operating lever 134 is pivotally mounted at 135 to a support means 133 which has been secured to the frame member 130. A stop tablet 136 is integrally formed with the lever 134 and protrudes through the opening 132. The stop tablet 136 may be moved to two extreme positions and held in the extreme positions by means of the toggle spring 137.

A pair of air bag motors 138 and 139, similar to the air bag motors described above, are secured to the supporting member 133 on opposite sides of the pivot 135. A pair of air passages 140 and 141 interconnect the air bags 138 and 139, respectively, with a valve chamber 142. Air may be admitted to the chamber 142 through a passageway 143. The valve member 144 is mounted in the valve chamber 142 for horizontal reciprocation between the position, as illustrated in FIGURE 9, wherein the valve member 144 closes the passage 141 to the opposite extreme position wherein the valve member 144 will close off the passage 140. A permanent magnet 145 is mounted in the support member 133 with one pole of the magnet located adjacent one end of the reciprocating valve member 144. An electromagnet 146 having a core 147 is mounted on the support member 133 by any suitable means with the core 147 disposed adjacent the opposite end of the valve member 144. Power may be supplied to the electromagnet 146 by means of electrical leads 148 and 149.

In the operation of this modification, when the electromagnet 146 is de-energized, the valve member 144 is attracted to the right by the permanent magnet 145 to close the passageway 141. A puif of air now supplied through the passageway 143 to the chamber 142 will be directed through the passageway 140 to inflate the air bag motor 138 and pivot the lever 134 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 135. When the electromagnet 146 is energized, the valve member 144 will be shifted to the left and a subsequent puff of air as applied at 143 will be directed through passageway 141 to inflate the air bag 139 to shift the lever 134 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 135.

The air bag motor arrangement may also be utilized to operate other types of control members, such as those having a reciprocating action instead of a pivoting action. An example to this would be a drawknob of the type commonly used on organs. FIGURE shows such a drawknob 158 secured to a rod 160 which extends through the hole 152 in the frame 150. A generally rectangular support member 154 is secured to the opposite side of the frame member from the drawknob 158. The uppermost portion of the support member 154 is provided with a slot 156 in which the reduced upper end 164 of a connecting bar 162 is guided. The opposite end of the connecting bar 162 is secured to the drawknob rod 160 by any suitable means. A toggle spring 166 is secured to a pair of posts, one of which is attached to the support member 154 and the other being attached to'the reduced end portion 164 of the connecting bar 162. The spring 166 will tend to complete the shifting action initiated by the air bag motors and hold the drawknob in either of its two extreme positions. A pair of air bag motors 168 and 170, similar to the previously described air bag motors, are secured to the support member 154 on opposite sides of the connecting bar 162. A plurality of air passages are formed in the support member and air is supplied thereto by means of an inlet conduit 172 which directs the air into a valve chamber 174. A valve member 176 is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement within the valve chamber 174 and in the position shown in FIGURE 10 blocks ofi the passage 178 which leads to the air bag motor 168. With the valve in this position, a pull of air as supplied to the chamber 174 will be directed through the passage 180, the tube 182 and the passage 184 to inflate the air bag motor 170 thereby initiating a shifting movement of the drawknob to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 10. The valve member 176 will ordinarily be maintained in its lowermost position by means of gravity and an electromagnet 188 having a core 186 is secured to the frame 154 by any suitable means above the valve member 176. Upon energization of the electromagnet 188 through the leads 190, the valve member 176 -will be moved upwardly due to the attraction of the core 186. Upon moving upwardly, the valve member will close the passageway 180 and a subsequent pufi of air applied to the passage 172 will be directed to inflate the air bag 168 to initiate a shifting movement of the drawknob 158 to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 shows a still further modification utilizing the pneumatically operated means shown in FIG- URE 10. The reference numeral 192 designated a schematic showing of an arrangement identical to that of FIGURE 10. The control member 194 which is reciprocated by the pneumatic means is analogous to the rod 160 shown in FIGURE 10 and the reciprocating motion imparted thereto may be utilized to perform any one of a plurality of functions requiring a reciprocating movement. In the example shown in FIGURE 12, a connecting wire 196 is connected between the reciprocating member 194 and a control bar 198. The control bar 198 is formed with a hole 200 extending therethrough and one end of a lever member 202 may extend through the hole 200. It is obvious that upon reciprocation of the members 194, 196 and 198, the lever 202 will be pivoted between two extreme positions. The control bar 198 may also be provided with a plurality of contacts 204 adapted to cooperate with electrical contacts 206 to provide a plurality of electrical control functions.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is.

1. A pneumatically operated control means comprising; support means, a control element movably mounted on said support means, means for holding said control element in either of two positions, a pair of air bag motors carried by the support means adjacent the control element so that expansion of one air bag motor will cause movement of the control element in one direction and expansion of the other air bag motor will cause movement of the control element in the other direction, a controlled source of air pressure for producing a pulse of air pressure only if it is desired to operate said control element, means providing closed paths of fluid communication between the controlled air pressure pulse source and the air bag motors, and electromagnetically operated valve means in the closed paths of fluid communication for applying the pulse of pressure to one or the other of the air bag motors.

2. A pneumatically operated control means as defined in claim 1 wherein the valve means is normally incapable of operation against the air pressure, but operable during the time before a pulse of pressure is applied to the valve means, and comprises a two arm valve flap lever having one arm controlling fluid pulse pressure to one air bag and the other arm controlling pulse pressure to the other air bag, and an electromagnet for causing movement of the valve flap lever.

3. A pneumatically operated control means as defined in claim 2 wherein one arm of the valve flap lever is heavier than the other, and the valve flap lever is mounted in a vertical plane so that the heavier arm by gravity will normally stop the pressure pulse from going to one air bag motor, and the electromagnet is positioned adjacent the lighter arm so that energization of the electromagnet will move the lever opening communication to the air bag motor controlled by the heavier arm and closing fluid pressure pulse communication to the other air bag motor.

4. A pneumatically operated control means as defined in claim 2 wherein the valve fiap lever is mounted at the bottom of a closed chamber and the paths of fluid communication to the air bag motors extend'from the bottom of the chamber and the source of air pulse pressure is applied to the chamber above the valve flap lever so that the air pulse pressure aids in seating the arm of the valve flap lever which is resting on the bottom of the chamber when the air pressure pulse is applied, thus requiring that the electromagnet be energized only until the pressure pulse arrives at the closed chamber.

5. A pneumatically operated control means as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for holding the control element in either of two positions including a toggle spring cooperating between the control element and the support means.

6. A pneumatically operated control means as defined in claim 1 wherein the air bag motors are heat sealed pieces of plastic secured over openings in the support means, which openings are the termination of the paths of fluid communication.

7. A pneumatically operated control means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control element comprises a stop tablet pivotally mounted on said support means with said pair of air bag motors adjacent thereto on opposite sides of said pivotal connection.

8. A pneumatically operated control means as set forth in claim 7 wherein said support means includes an elongated member with rearwardly extending lugs, and said stop tablet includes a tablet portion and an operating arm portion extending at an angle thereto, and integrally connected by spaced arms which straddle the elongated support member and the pivotal mounting includes a pin extending through the lugs of the elongated member and the operating arm of the stop tablet.

9. A pneumatically operated control means as set forth in claim 7 further including a plurality of stop tablets connected to a common source of controlled air pressure.

10. A pneumatically operated control means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means is comprised of an element mounted for reciprocating movement on said support means, said element having a portion thereof disposed intermediate said pair of air bag motors.

5 forth in claim 1 wherein said air bag motors are made of plastic material.

No references cited.

0 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES M. OVERBEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING; SUPPORT MEANS, A CONTROL ELEMENT MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID CONTROL ELEMENT IN EITHER OF TWO POSITIONS, A PAIR OF AIR BAG MOTORS CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT MEANS ADJACENT THE CONTROL ELEMENT SO THAT EXPANSION OF ONE AIR BAG MOTOR WILL CAUSE MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL ELEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION AND EXPANSION OF THE OTHER AIR BAG MOTOR WILL CAUSE MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL ELEMENT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, A CONTROLLED SOURCE OF AIR PRESSURE FOR PRODUCING A PULSE OF AIR PRESSURE ONLY IF IT IS DESIRED TO OPERATE SAID CONTROL ELEMENT, MEANS PROVIDING CLOSED PATHS OF FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CONTROLLED AIR PRESSURE PULSE SOURCE AND THE AIR BAG MOTORS, AND ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERATED VALVE MEANS IN THE CLOSED PATHS OF FLUID COMMUNICATION FOR APPLYING THE PULSE OF PRESSURE TO ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE AIR BAG MOTORS. 